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Cristiano Ronaldo lit up the Bernabeu with a brilliant four-goal performance in Real Madrid's 6-1 drubbing of struggling Racing Santander on Saturday.

Ronaldo eclipsed Lionel Messi's double in Barcelona's 2-0 win at Real Zaragoza earlier in the day as the Portuguese helped restore Real's one-point lead over their arch rivals at the top of La Liga.

Real have now scored 16 goals in three La Liga outings, Ronaldo bagging eight, and former Inter Milan and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho already appears to be working his magic after only a few months in the Spanish capital.

Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain opened Real's account in the 10th minute and Ronaldo followed up with two smart finishes in the 15th and 27th.

He completed his hat-trick two minutes into the second half and scored a fourth from the penalty spot in the 55th before Mesut Ozil made it 6-0 eight minutes later.

Racing, down in 16th position, pulled one back in the 73rd when a shot by Papakouli Diop went in off Markus Rosenberg's back.

Unbeaten Real have 20 points from eight games. Fourth-placed Valencia (16 points) host Real Mallorca in Saturday's late match while Villarreal (16) and Atletico Madrid (13) will try to keep pace with the leaders when they clash on Sunday.

FLAILING ARM

Earlier, Messi registered his second double in a row to give Barca victory against 10-man Zaragoza at the Romareda.

Fresh from his two goals against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Argentine broke the home side's stubborn resistance with a clinical finish in the 42nd minute.

Spain striker David Villa, playing against one of his former clubs, took out three defenders with a surging run and knocked the ball into space for Messi to send a low shot past keeper Toni Doblas.

Zaragoza's Leonardo Ponzio was shown a straight red card two minutes after the break when he appeared to catch Daniel Alves with a flailing arm before Messi took his tally to five in six league matches in the 66th.

Seydou Keita and Andres Iniesta had efforts on goal but the ball eventually fell to World Player of the Year Messi just inside the penalty area and he lashed it into the net.

Villa almost made it three when his swerving shot hit the post in the 87th.